Vehicle-spring.



P. L.. ROO-KLEDGE & G.- VV. GILLBSPIE'.

VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION YILLD Nov. so, 1910;

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

ed mwah@ zizi? @2% I PEBCIVAL L. ROOKLEDGE ANDVGEORGE W. GILLESPIE, OF CAMBRIA, CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLESPBING.

imanes.

Speceation of Letters Patent.

rammed Nev. 1a, 1912..

Application tiled November 30, 1910. Serial No. 594,985.

To all whom it may concern.'

' Be it known that we, lnncivAL L. Room Lenen and Geenen W. GiLLnsPir., both citizens of the United States, residing at Cambria, in the county of San Luis O ispo and State of California, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Spring, of vwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to yielding supports in whichone or more springs are interposed between two bodies to be yieldingly separated as the axle and chassis ofan automobile; and the object of the invention is to provide a spring which will afford a gently yieldin resilient support for light and heavy loa. s alike; the resistance of the spring increaslng'and decreasing as the burden of the spring increases and decreases.

The invention may be. carried out 1n various forms and we shall illustrate and describe the invention in those forms at present deenged most desirable for general use ou automobiles and like vehicles.

This invention may be carried out in varions ways and includes certain combinations and arrangements of elements more particularly set forth in the subjoined de tail description.

The accomlmnying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention applied in a vforni comprising a full elliptic spring. Fig. 2 is a i'ragmental, longitudinal sectional detail ot the middle of the lower spring body and its support. Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a ieature ot the invention as applied in its simplest form. Fig. t is a. view, partly in section, illustrating the invention as applied in another form. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the invention as applied with a semielliptic spring. l41 ig. (3 is an enlarged sectional detail to show a typical `bearing of the shackles and the fnlcrum. Fig. 7 is a plan of the typical lever spring.' 'lhe fuleruin connection shown in Fig. 4 is shown and indicated'in solid and dotted lines. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross section on line .frsm8, Figs. l, Q'and 4.

One spring member is arranged as a lever `of Ythe first-class having relatively rigid and resilientarms l, 2, respectively arranged on opposite sides of the tulerum 3 to which the lever spring 1, 2, is journaled by a ball or roller-bearing. In some instances the tulcruln may be the axle of a wheel 4 saidaxle being one of the bodies to be resiliently separated and the chassis 5 or parts fixed thereto, being the other ot such bodies.

In Fig, 3 the chassis 5 of the vehicle is shown connected to the short arm 1 of the lever spring by the roller bearing 6 and a coil compression spring. 7 having a bearing 8 resting'on the end of the resilient arm 2 and the bearing 9 resting against the chassis forms the connection between the long resilient arm 2 and the up )er body. It is thus seen that the sprin ever having a long resilient arm Q and t ie short arm 1 may be connected more or less directly with the supported body.

In the form shown in Fig. 1 the full elliptic spring composed of two semi-elliptic spring bodies 10 and 10 is shown and the lever spring 1, 2, is interposed between said spring bodies.

It is thus seen that the bodies to be separated by the resiliency of the spring lever l, Q, may be resilient or non-resilient elements as occasion requires.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. t the lower spring body 10 comprises the main leaf 11, bottoni plate 12, and reinforcing leaves 12', 13, 14 and 141', and top-reinforcing leaves 15, 16, 17; the leaves being crooked and having the crooks nested together as shown at 18 in Figs. Q and The lower spring body 10 is secured to the axle plate 1t) by clip bolts 20 and a yok'e21; the latter being .seated in the crook 1S and held in place by the `nuts 29. upon the clip bolts 20 which are fastened to the plate 12 that is provided with a seat 2.4 to seat the crook 18 and is also provided with perforations 25 to receive the axle clips 2G which extend through the spring plate l2 and through the Aaxle plate 19 which is fastened to the axle 2S. By this means the lower spring body is solidly secured to the axle. The top leaves 15, It', and 17 are for the purpose of supporting the main leafagainst the up pull of the spring when it is working.

The tulcruni 3 ol the lever spring 1, 2, shown in Fig. 1 is mounted on one tip of the main leaf l1 and the short comparatively rigid arm 1 is connected by a shackle 29 with the endet the main leat 30 ot the top halt of the spring. The main leaves 11 and 30 of the lower and upper spring bodies 10, ll0 may each comprise one or more members, and are shown in the drawings as consisting of two members.

Y:forms a substitute for the bumper 33 and under heavy loads the limber arm 2 will bend up as the chassis 5 descends so that its intermediate part will contact with the un der-side of the chassis 5 thus being separated in such a manner as to slierten the leverage and consequently stiffen the lever arm 2 which is stiflened to support the load. In Fig. l the upper and lower spring bodies 35, 36 are connected by a bolt 37 and return bends 38, 39 of the main leaves; said return bends encircling the bolt. The top' and bottom limbs of the spring on this side of the clip are of equal length. The other Aarm of the lower body 36 of the spriugis shorter than the corresponding arm of the upper body of said spring and is bent over at the end to form the eye et() through which the fulcrum-3 is inserted to ulcruin the lever spring to that end, which is provided with eyes 42 for said ulcrum.

The shackle 43 connects the: comparatively rigid short arm l of the lever spring with theend of the upper spring body 35;

the ends of the main leaf 45 of the upper spring body being bent around the end of the `lever and connected with the lower bearing of the-shackle. The resilient arm 2 ot `the lever spring is connected by a shackle 4G with the long arm of the lower spring body.

In the half` elliptic form shown in Fig. 5 the lever is fulcr-umed at 47 at one end to the half spring 48. The other end of the half spring is jointed at 49 to the chassis 5; the resilient end 2 of the lever is connected by a shackle 50 with the long end of the lower' half spring and the still short end l ot' said lever spring is connected by a shackle 51 with thechassis.

Assumingthat in Figs. l and 4 the springs are attached'to the rear axle7 the lever spring is fulcrumed at the rear end of the lower body of the sprin and the resilient arm 2 is shaclrled to the ront of the elliptic spring. The shackles in Figs. l, 4 and 5 are rigid links the ends of which are pivotally connected with the parts which said shackles connect.

The connection between the lever spring composed of the arms l, 2 may be made more or less directly with the ends oi the upper half of the elliptic spring. ln Fig. l said lever spring l, 2 is connected by means retenes ot the shackles 29 and V31 which are pivotally connected at their lower ends with the leyer Y and at the upper ends with the ends of the spring bodyl l0 by roller-bearings 6 substantially the same as the roller-bearing 6 shown in Fig. 3 and detailed in Fig. 6.

ln Fig. 4 the roller-bearings '6 correspond to the roller-bearings 6 and 6. but the end of the long resilient arln 2 of the spring lever is connected less directly with theupper spring body 35, a portion of thelower spring 36 being interposed between the up.

The lever s irinfr may be constructed inr any desired form, but is preferably drawn down in width from the fulcrunl to the tip. The object of this lever spring is to make a5 light spring which will act when the vehicle is running light. Weight on the body ot' the vehicle will exert pressure on the end ot' the shqirt rigid arm l, and this, of course. is,

resisted at the fulcrunr 3 and is transmitted through the 1es1l1ent ariu 2 to the other en'd'oiz the spring, causing the resilient arm.

to bow upward as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. l..

lVith a heavier load the bow of the re` silient arm 2 rises and the bumper 33 lowers unt-il the bumper rests on the resilient nrm,v

thereby operating through the lever to press upward through 'the shackle 29 and downward on the fulcruni 3 and throue'hthe shackle 3l in Fig. l. This appliespressure to all of the limbs of the spring until the resilient arm 2 rests on the lower bumper 34. whereupon further addition to the load will be supported by the bumpers as well as the springs.

lt is thus seen that the spring-` adjusts itself to the load until the bumpers support the' load. When the load is light the lever spring is in action. As the load increases the resistance of the spring increases in proportion therewith so that the spring will make a light car run easily and roe the full strength of the spring is utilizedL when the car is heavily loaded.

By fulcruming a lever spring of the form shown between two bodies that are tc be resilient-ly separated a light acting spring isprovided, by supporting the fulcrum on another spring a greater range of" resiliency is secured and the range is further increased by connecting one or both of the ends of the lever spring lwith other spring supported to 'torni -lother no:

reeeeee members end the greatest range is secured 'by the provision olf the i'ull elliptic spring bodies connected with the lever spring; 1nd provided with :i bumper to compress the resilient, erm of the lever spring, all ot the spring elements being' between the bodies to be seperated.

Y ln practical use, when the lever arm under strain or ireesure comes up against the bumper in Fig. l, thus introducing;` into action the shorter lever which extentie` between the bumper 3S and the ulcruni 3; ell tbe reeiliency oi. this part 2 of the lever 'teiten up end the action of the whole spring cornes into play.

lreeeurc or weight on the top spring in the cose ot the tull elliptic Spring or on the body ci the eer in the. cese oit zi halt-elliptic s the. lever to bow upward unee the bumper end :fitter the. lever 'the lusniper, lviore the our een comprese the springs further, it. is neces Se 'y :for the pressure to straighten out the limb Q :ind in doin# so it has a. tendency to clev the end oit the springet, or :is the ease inziy be.

is' thus;- eeen that e broadly novel ifea.- ture ot' this invention is; the provision between two iiorliee` to be reeiliently separated ot a. lever Spring' between und connected with seid bodies und bovine' n, liniber arm that. ie iebie et bending intermediate its ende until it corneal into (font-ict with seid or an element conneifted there'- e leverage ot the resilient ortencd and Said arm is engages with erin beeon'ief;

itivtl mini.

Brin, 'for reeiliently separating two iid ring' eonu'irisingr e lever tuned to one ot seid bodies and vely rigid and liinber shackles connecting the ot ern-is, arrnsciE eiiil lever spring 'with the other Seid bodies, the relatively liinber :trui being arranged and adapted to bend into con-tact `with one ot Suid bodice eo is tol be thereby Shorter lever solisten@ titilly and. for the purpoeo Set forth.

il, .or Spring' for reeiliently separating bodies, comprising;` e. lever spring` having; relative jf rigid :and resilient ernia, the resilient erin beinev longijnnd liniber, e 'tub trein lieb-.veen smid arrns und Supported by one olf seid bodice, connections between the ends oit the lever spring and the other body, and bumper connected with said other body to Contact with an intermediate portion of the liinber arm to slierten the lever- :ige end to support said erin.

3. A Spring` tor reeil'ently separating two bodies compiifne; u lever spring having' relatively jid and resilient arms, e ytoileruin between seid arme, a Spring on one of seid bodies supporting the Jtuler'urn and connected with thc ende of the lever spring,-

:ind :i bumper on the last-inlined supported spring; to contact with the resilient erin of the lever Sprino.

5. A vehicle Spring.)v comprising n lowei` halt elliptic spring `formed ot a 11min lent und upper and lower lezivesv above and below the nuiin :lent: seid leaves being provided with croolm` und nested together; n bottom plate; clip bolts and :i yoke connecting the plante with the lower huit elliptic spring; Suid yoke being sented in :i crook and Suid plate being lu'ovided with :i sont in which u. crock is seated; :in axle menus fastening the half elliptic spring to the axle, u fulcruni on one und ot the half elliptic spring, :t lever spring; on the tule-ruin; one erin ot said lever being rei-gilientz; :Ln upper halt elliptic spring; e ehlickle between one end of the lever Spring' uuid one end of Seid upper halt elliptic epring, and u shackle between the other end ot the lever spring and the other end oi the upper half elliptic, spring; sind other end oit' the upper heilt elliptic epring being joined to the end ot the lower hall elliptic spring.

(i. The conibiniition with two bodies to be resiliently seperated, of a lever spring, :L fnlcruni between said lever spring :ind one ot seid bodies, :ind connections between the ends of' the leverswirling,I and the other ot said bodies; one ot' the :i1-nis of Suid. lever spring beingl loug and liuiber und adapted :rnd lerrnnged to bow into contact with the other body under heavy loads substantially :is Set forth.

7. The. combination with two bodies to be resiliently separated, of u lever spring, :i tulcruin 'for the lever spring, Huid fulcruni being supported by one of said bodice` und zi. Spring' on the other body connected with the ende ot the lever Spring; one of the nruis ot the lever spring beingT long :1nd liniber sind capable of bowing,` under heavy londe into contact with the other body.

8. The conibiimtion with two bodies to be resiliently separated, ot u lever spring, :L tulcrurn for Suid lever Spring, e. epring on one of said bodies supporting the fulcrum, :i spring on the second body connected wit-h the ends of the lever spring and :i bumper connected with the second spring and adapted to contact with an erin of the lever spring.

9. The combination with two bodies to be resiliently Separated, of two springs connected respectively with said bodies, and a lOl lever spring :tulerurned between sind resiliently connecting the springs that are oonnected with said bodies; one arm of said lever spring being long and capable of bowing into Contact with the other body.

l0. rl`he combination with two bodies to be resiliently separated, of two springs Conneeted respectively with said bodies, a lever spring` iulerumed between und resiliently 'connecting the springs that are connected said resilient arm and the other body spring.

d1'2. The Combination with tWo bodies t0 be resilient-ly seperated, of two springs e011- neeted respectively with said bodies, ball bearingl fulcrum, a lever spring fulerumed by said ulerum between und resilientlyeonneeting the springs that are connected with said bodies und a; bumper between the resilient arm of the lever spring and one of the body springs, and a bumper between said resilient ermzind the other body spring. ln testimony whereof, ,we lieve'herennto set our hands zit Cambria, California, this 22d day of November, 1910.

PERCVAL L. ROOKLEDGE. GEORGE 1V. GILLESPIE.

ln presence of- G. S. Drome, R. A. PLAsKFfer. 

